“I am uplifted in thy heart. My every instinct has become the echo of thy heartbeat. My life dances to the rhythm of thy pulse.”

MEDITATION COLOR: Blue.

HEBREW LETTER: Samekh, prop, support: something that lifts up, or holds up, something else. Its root, SMKh, samakh, means “to place or lay (a thing);” then, by derivation, “to uphold, to sustain, to aid” and even “to approach.” All of these ideas are descriptive of that inner, uplifting, sustaining spiritual reality commonly called the Holy Guardian Angel, intimate communion with Whom is associated with the 25th Path. It is this Holy Guardian Angel that is the source of the test, trial, probing, and proving of the spiritual aspirant in the experience of this Path of the Tree of Life.

CARD NAME: “Art” (a word diversely understood) has, as its contemporary basic meaning, “human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.” This has strong alchemical and magical implications. It is no surprise that this Path is aimed at the sefirah called Beauty. Its Latin form, ars, stems from the Indo-European root ar-, meaning “to fit together.” The same root gives us the words harmony and aristocracy. The older title, “Temperance,” is best understood in the sense of tempering steel, and in the archaic sense of “a middle course between extremes” (although another modern use of “temper” corresponds to the Qabbalistic correspondence of this path, Wrath). Its Latin root means “to mingle in due proportion,” probably related to tempus, “time,” i.e., “in due season.”

ESOTERIC MEANING: The Consciousness of Probation (or Trial). It is the primary test by which the Creator proves the Compassionate (i.e., the Adepts).

TREE of LIFE: Yesod to Tifereth. (Links ‘the Foundation’ and ‘Beauty,’ Moon and Sun; or Subconsciousness with the Ego-center. The Path of the Arrow fired from the bow (Qesheth, QShTh). Ascent from a lesser, shifting, unstable, reflective light to a greater, surer, brighter, radiant Light. Marriage of the Sun and Moon completed. The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.)

ESOTERIC TITLE: The Daughter of the Reconcilers, the Bringer-forth of Life

TANTRIC & ALCHEMICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Consummation of the Royal Marriage (Coagula). Merging and interchange of attributes. Mingling of elements in a “cauldron.”

"To advance—that means Work. Patient, exhausting, thankless, often bewildering Work. Dear sister, if you would but Work! Work blindly, foolishly, misguidedly, it doesn’t matter in the end: Work in itself has absolute virtue." -Magick Without Tears

Performed Lesser Banishing Pentagram Ritual, then I imagined my Aura was filled with a blue liquid fire, while slowing counting my breaths.The path of Art connects Tiphareth with Yesod, the Sun conjoined with the Moon. I can see the symbolisms of the Sun in the Art card, blazing behind the doubled headed figure. The two headed figure could be the waning and waxing of the Moon. Also, the white Lion could be the Sun and the red eagle the Moon.

On the breast of the central figure is a six circled geometric diagram. I have seen this, I don’t recall where. Does anyone know what it is?

AL III,17: “Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms.”

Ankh wrote:On the breast of the central figure is a six circled geometric diagram. I have seen this, I don’t recall where. Does anyone know what it is?

Yes, it is the "many-breasted" aspect of Diana.

From the Book of Thoth:

Sagittarius means the Archer; and the card is (in its simplest and most primitive form) a picture of Diana the Huntress. Diania is primarily one of the lunar goddesses, though the Romans rather degraded her from the Greek "virgin Artemis," who is also the Great Mother of Fertility, Diana of the Ephesians, Many-Breasted.

Edit: The figure might also have some geometrical application that my cursory investigations could not verify.

Interesting ritual experiment by the way.

Note:I have been following everybody's posts with interest; I am still playing ketchup--finished with Fortune today and will begin working on Lust tonight.

Thank you for the reference Mephisto. I am getting ready to move, everything is in boxes right now.

Aha! I recall what I was thinking about. In Israel Regardies book the Golden Dawn.

There is a diagram of eight circles with seven circles within it. Inside of the seven circles were the names of the ten Sephirot . It was another way to model the tree of life,... I think

AL III,17: “Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms.”

Ankh wrote:There is a diagram of eight circles with seven circles within it. Inside of the seven circles were the names of the ten Sephirot . It was another way to model the tree of life,... I think

7 palaces (circles) containing the 10 sephiroth. There's a diagram of it in 7761/2.

"To advance—that means Work. Patient, exhausting, thankless, often bewildering Work. Dear sister, if you would but Work! Work blindly, foolishly, misguidedly, it doesn’t matter in the end: Work in itself has absolute virtue." -Magick Without Tears

Quote: Al-Shariyf 7 palaces (circles) containing the 10 sephiroth. There's a diagram of it in 7761/2.

Thank You Al-Shariyf.

Oh yeah, also, while I am thinking about it. This morning, I took pictures of the cards on my phone. This way, I can carry them with me were ever I go. I though the idea might be useful for everyone here who participates in these mediations.

AL III,17: “Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms.”

Thank you for the reference Mephisto. I am getting ready to move, everything is in boxes right now.

Odd, I myself have been preparing to move and all of my things are boxed up as well. Synchronicity abides.

Ankh wrote:Oh yeah, also, while I am thinking about it. This morning, I took pictures of the cards on my phone. This way, I can carry them with me were ever I go. I though the idea might be useful for everyone here who participates in these mediations.

Great idea! I'm going to put the day's Atu as my backround from now on so that whenever I look at the time/text or whatever I'll be further reminded of the card.

I'm posting my notes today up to Fortune; I've been doing an accelerated program and should be caught up by next week. I'm in the middle of a move but I'm working as diligently as possible. I'll be going to another Vipassana meditation course in mid-March, but this time I think I might smuggle in my deck and do a little clandestine Tarot meditation.

I'm getting a lot out of this project. The comparison between our observations is awesome, as it often brings new aspects of the card to light I haven't thought of. I feel like I'm finally getting a firm grasp of the Tarot and the Tree of Life, subjects I've studied for years but never systematically and in depth.

Observation: The 25th path of Art is the point of equilibrium for the middle pillar.

Directly above the 25th path is; Tiphareth, the 13th path and Kether. Directly below it is; Yesod, the 32nd path and Malkuth. It seems as if the 25th path is the link channeling the energies from the Supernals. Channeling it across the Abyss through Tiphareth, Yesod and finally into physical manifestation.

Quote Mephisto: Great idea!

I am glad it helped Mephisto.

AL III,17: “Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms.”

The woman on the card is extremely focused and completely engrossed on the task at hand. Her concentration is vital to the success of her operation. She's in a state of flow. Hers is a work of love and she loves to do the work.

Behind her is a large golden egg - the presence of her Angel, whispering the word of the operation into her ear - V.I.T.R.I.O.L. She is acting out this process and her Angel is guiding her.

The cauldron in the card appears to be the focal point for all the parties in the card: The woman, the eagle and the lion. Each of them have an active role in what's going on inside the cauldron - the lion spills its blood, the eagle adds a few drops of saliva...the woman mixes in the water from the grail and the fire...all of it shoots the arrow up toward the woman and I am left wondering if this is the same arrow that the cherub was going to use in the Lovers card.

Day TwoPressure, proving, probing - the pressure from the heat causes the energy to spread & rise. I'm sort of zoned in on the fire at the bottom of the card, which causes the contents in the cauldron to boil - I am reminded of the use of heat and putting the pressure on something or some one to get things done.

I am also reminded of cooking - of making a dish - having a vision of how it should look and taste and doing everything to have it look and taste just like we saw in our vision of it - making the outer a perfect reflection and extension of the inner.

When the contents of the cauldron are mixed in due proportion is causes the arrow to shoot upward. I think I get her intention now!

But who is she?

Fertility goddess? She seems much more than that and I feel as though what she is making is something that resemble her nature. I can't put my finger on it.

Whoever she is, she is pouring all of herself into what she is making - she IS what she is making

Day ThreeI emerge out of the blue sphere & my attention is drawn to the blue background of the card. I am reminded of the stars in the sky at the night - The Starry Blue - our celestial nature - home

The full moon looms in the background, reflecting the light of the sun to us - casting a rainbow -

Within me, I can sense all opposites being reconciled and partaking of each other, just like the figure in the card is blue and white - solar AND lunar in nature, working harmoniously, under careful direction and with great focus and attention.

I sense skillful use and application of ones skills - taking raw materials and combining the best parts of them to make something completely new

"To advance—that means Work. Patient, exhausting, thankless, often bewildering Work. Dear sister, if you would but Work! Work blindly, foolishly, misguidedly, it doesn’t matter in the end: Work in itself has absolute virtue." -Magick Without Tears

- Prop: instincts have become a base (support, foundation) for Spiritual Life, rather than „obstacle“ for it; subconscious and automatic aspects of the psyche work in accordance with HGA’s instructions.- Union of Fire and Water, whose “fruit” is not directed downward but upward- This card is one expression/portrait of dynamic Perfection; balance, harmony, accord, complementarity of opposites.- Each one of us has both genders inside; their conscious balanced gradual uniting leads to their marriage, whose result is Creativity – Art.- NB: ancient-Greek techne vs. poiesis; this Path is poiesis, which includes techne but is higher than it, because it has the factor of Inspiration (for techne one has only to be equipped with knowledge, which can be learned & developed through practice; inspiration can not be learned, is not a factor of reason); it’s a manifestation of this Path described in Heidegger’s “The Origin of the Work of Art”, art as “happening of Truth”, Aletheia – as “shining-forth” of Truth, which is Beauty)------------------- Art – the Path of the Arrow = mirror-image of Gimel (Luna, arrows).- A hard and dangerous – seemingly impossible – task this is, to unite Fire with Water; the art is in the ability to do it, like walking on the razor’s edge, it demands tremendous concentration (at the same time effortless), being awake and observant, calm, in order for the opposite to meet in their purest, each pair on their Plane.- Looking at the card automatically initiates focus of energy in the back of the head (the root of the cranium) and in Ajna’s kshetram (“third eye” point), I feel both points as connected; this creates the feeling of openness of the top of the head, and sort of “excitement” there, a tension anticipating something unknown that can only be described (in this “anticipation”) as Unutterable Ecstasy.- There is an inexhaustible Treasure inside the human being. Every human being has inside him/her literally EVERYTHING that he/she needs.The road is hard, though, that leads to knowledge/awareness of this; hence people rather choose unawareness, ignorance and keep staying in the dark and pain of it. - Holiness, holiness, holiness! Such Holiness here. Intimate space of relationship with God.

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- Color: joy, fulfillment, being protected (in the sense of “being under the wing of a Higher Force”).- Subconsciousness = the “dish” of transformation (cauldron). Physical body reflects the state of the subconsciousness; root patterns are there, according to which material world behaves.- Green clothes of the androgyn figure: the Work of this sphere happens inside the “frame” of Nature: everything that happens in this Art are processes of Nature; the Aspirant handles forces of Nature with awareness.- NB: see the connection of these animals with the powers of the Sphinx (traditional elemental virtues) on different planes.--------------------- To know how to use own life-forces; to understand them, acknowledge their creativity & destructiveness, etc., and then to refine them gradually, with conscious attention (Dharana), until they become Pure Forces of Nature; then “let” them to freely act – polarized, they are driven towards uniting with each other; out of this Beauty is naturally born.- “Terra” here = Kingdom (Malkuth), and more particularly, human body, person’s own body as the first immediate physical phenomenon; its “interior” = instincts & drives, and basic psychological processes; “rectification” = observing, analyzing, which is purifying; “the hidden stone” = Sol, the Star- a turtle appears to me as a personal animal-symbol for this Path.

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- Color: It’s somehow hard to find the right variant of blue today… - This is the Royal Path (Raja), it’s “Raja Magia”, a magical counterpart of Raja Yoga; but here mysticism & magick harmoniously meet and overlap each other.- There is a secret source (as a fountain) of Light inside, that’s what this figure on the card is revealing.- The processes and phenomena of Yesod should not only be purified, but also directed toward Tipheret, that is accomplished by conscious attention (the importance of concentration for the Work).- The double lunar crescent on the top of androgyn’s head reaches over the Rainbow and the Light; it’s Receptivity on a higher level, relationship of Tipheret with Kether.----------------- A caterpillar -> a cocoon - > a butterfly (appear as a visual “explanation” of processes of this Path). - Active/Yang: aspiration, enthusiasm;Passive/Yin: observation, Dharana- One can not become aware of (and be it) his/her own star-nature without awareness, acceptance and purification of his/her animal nature, and the deeper this go, the better – even plant-nature, and the mineral one.- Now I see a doric Greek column, and then more of them – each four make a whole, they serve as props for the Temple, holding a cupola on top of them. They are firmly standing straight and up, defying gravitation, but being “based” on it.- This Path = Jacob’s “Ladders to Heaven”; the Rainbow has essentially the same symbolic meaning.

"Write, & find ecstasy in writing! Work, & be our bed in working! Thrill with the joy of life & death! Ah! thy death shall be lovely: whoso seeth it shall be glad. Thy death shall be the seal of the promise of our age long love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none."

Behind the Alchemist there is an aura of illuminating light that is also the light of the Sun – Tiphereth. The rainbow at its perimeter indicates the clear-light nature of mind – as represented in Tibetan Buddhist sources.I see three distinct characters/symbols that are very subtle on each side of the rainbow, before and after the letters. One looks like the sun symbol, the other two are unknown to me.

“Earth” being the physical body, the gross level of consciousness, Malkuth, physical senses. “Visit the interior of the Earth” – going within; calming the mind and entering more subtle levels of consciousness; shutting down the senses and distractions of the senses. “Rectification” – purifying mind of discursive, afflictive and/or overactive thought; calming the craving of the senses which cause disturbance and take away clarity. “Thou shall find” – “find” indicating it’s already there within us. “Hidden stone” – enlightenment which is the very foundation upon which we are built. In Tibetan tradition – we all already posses the Bodhi mind, it’s just a matter of purifying the pollution which obscures the view of our true nature – which is bliss and voidness.

The Alchemist representing the two polarities: male and female; conscious and subconscious; day and night, fire and water; Yang and Yin, etc. Left face corresponds to right hand, and right face to the left hand (based on color coding) indicating the fluid nature of energies curving from left to right just like it is portrayed by Ida and Pingala subtle channels. In the cauldron is the composite mixture of polarities forming a divine nectar, Amrita. In Tantra traditions the mixture of male and female fluids are considered a powerful concoction to be consumed by the Magicians. Underneath the cup/grail is the fire – indicating the substances must pass through fire and become purified (rectified). Red eagle and white lion (whereas normally it is the lion that is red and eagle that is white) also seem to indicate fluid nature of polarities and perhaps their interchangeability.

In the center of Alchemist’s body is an arrow pointing up and there is a rainbow path that follows along, starting from the mixture in the cup – indicating the Kundalini energy moving through Sushumna and up toward the third eye, bringing about self-realization and divine perception.

Meditation 2

The Alchemist’s dress sports combination of patterns found on clothing of Empress, Emperor, and the Lovers. I feel like this card represents Empress and Emperor coming together, and it’s a step further from the Lovers card – after they have united in marriage, they are undergoing the alchemy of their inner essences coming together, refinement of their human qualities and energies, and dedication to the purpose of the Great Work. They are united into a single androgynous being, working harmoniously over their exalted concoction of merging energies. The Alchemist is also wearing crowns – just like Emperor, Empress and Lovers do. The Alchemist is veiled in rainbow – the clear nature of mind, pure awareness. It’s a profoundly beautiful imagery – the more I look at it.

Meditation 3

The Alchemist is adding Solar (fire) and Lunar (water) essences into the cauldron. Simultaneously Lion and Eagle are contributing feminine and masculine fluids – blood and semen into the concoction. The contents of the cauldron are purified by heat. Out of the mix emerges fumes of rainbow that veil the Alchemist.On the cauldron there is a symbol of raven and the skull, and over them is a cross. I looked up symbolism:“With the raven and the grave, the skull is a symbol of the blackening and mortification of the first stage of the Lesser Work, `earth to earth’, and signifies dying to the world; but it is also that which survives and so is used as a reminder of life and transmutation.” “Black crow on the white skulls represents the alchemical calcination stage. Black crows or ravens are symbols of the Nigredo or Black Phase of Alchemy. This is the beginning stage in alchemy.”

"As long as space endures, as long as sentient beings remain, until then, may I too remain to dispel the miseries of the world." - Arya Shantideva, Bodhicaryāvatāra